CHAP. VI VILLA CtAEDENING 271 



ways of aftbrding protection, and, after securing a good coping, I 

 have finally come hack to the old-fashioned system of Yew branches 

 and fishing -nets. I find in these simple inexpensive materials 

 protection enough to save the crop without weakening the trees by 

 overdoing it. I never cover before the blossoms begin to open, 

 and I do not altogether uncover till the middle of May — even 

 not then if the nights are cold and frosty. The Yew branches are 

 cut small, and tucked under the branches of the trees in such 

 a manner that they will afford protection to the blossoms ; the 

 fishing -nets, in one or two thicknesses, as may be needful, are 

 suspended in front, and secured to prevent the wind doing injury 

 to the trees. 



The Propagation op the Apricot is very easy. Many 

 of the Apricots on cottage walls have been raised from seed 

 by some of the children planting a stone. Seedlings vary 

 a good deal, and some may be useless ; but I have seen many 

 raised from the ]\Ioor Park which have turned out well, and, 

 unlike the Peach, seedling Apricots are healthy and vigorous 

 on their own roots, and if planted in firm ground soon come into 

 bearing. The system adopted in the nursery is to bud Apricots on 

 the Muscle Plum. The oi)eration of budding is very simple, but 

 some judgment is rec^uired both in the time and method of 

 selection. As regards the latter, when the bark works freely and 

 the buds can be had in the right condition, there is not much 

 fear of failure. From the end of July to the end of August 

 is the best time to bud fruits of all kinds. Insert the buds in the 

 side of the stem near the ground, on the western or north-western 

 side, as in this position they may be shaded a little from the 

 sun. The tie shoidd be loosened as soon as the bud is fairly estab- 

 lished. 



Insects and Diseases. — Apricots are sometimes attacked 

 by aphis and red spider, but they are easily freed from these pests 

 by using the usual remedies, which have been elsewhere referred 

 to. A species of brown scale sometimes establishes itself on Apri- 

 cot trees. It usually appears on those in weak health, and can 

 easily be got rid of by using a strong wash of Gishurst comiDound 

 in winter, 5 or 6 ounces to the gallon of water. It may in bad 

 cases be thickened with lime, soot, and sulphur, adding a dash of 

 Tobacco liquor to the mass, stii-ring it till it assumes the consist- 

 ency of paint ; then it can be applied with a painter's brush 

 in winter, when the leaves are down and before the buds start. 

 The diseases which do so much injury to Apricots on some soils 

 are gumming and canker, or branch-dying. In the latter respect 

 the Apricot is singiUarly unfortunate. No other_,fruit tree is so. 



